
Today's writing prompt:
Share your personal history…before you were a home educator. What was life like? Think about things you miss and things you and your family have gained.
Before I was a home educator, I was a classroom educator. I think I am a "born teacher". I actually set up and played school with my younger siblings throughout our early childhood days. Evidently my youngest sister's kindergarten teacher asked my mom where she went to preschool to which my mom replied "at home with her big sister".....or something like that. (So perhaps I am actually a "born homeschooler". LOL :-) )
When I was in third grade, if I finished my work early I was allowed to go back to my kindergarten teacher's room and I would help her check papers and put on smiley faces on them and then put them in the kids cubbies. I loved it! I spent a few years in junior high as a day camp counselor and also worked in a day care center one summer when I was older. In college I coached YMCA basketball and worked with the preschool choir at church. So from the beginning I've always enjoyed working to help others learn.
I graduated from college and began my official career teaching children when I was twenty-one. I taught for ten years before I became a momma, and thankfully I have been home with our daughter from her birth. I was sharing with her just this past week that God answered my prayers to be able to stay home with her. Before she was born, my husband and I had planned for me to stay home with her for about eight months before we thought I would need to return to working outside of the home (we only had enough saved up for me to stay home that long). Once I met her face to face, I could not imagine leaving her with strangers (and I suddenly understood all those kindergarten mommas that stood outside the classroom windows for at least half the day!); and I continue to be thankful to be with her every day.
Not only did God answer our prayers for me to stay home, He brought us "home" to the town where most of my family lives when JB was about 7 months old as part of His answer. It is so nice to be near my parents and siblings (we're all in the same state, though three of us live within 3o minutes of each other). My husband's family is also in the same state. We are thankful.
When JB was about two years old I think it was, I began to think about homeschooling. My mom still chuckles from time to time remembering the days when as a public school teacher I questioned homeschooling! My husband and I talked about it over time and I knew it was another answered prayer when he said, "yes, we should homeschool JB!" I knew then that it was what God had planned for us.
So I've spent the past few years reading about homeschooling methods, philosophies and resources. There is a big wide world outside of government schooling! ....LOL.... It is almost overwhelming at times sorting through it all. Since I tend to by nature be interested in all things education, I have thoroughly enjoyed researching and discovering new ideas/resources and such. (Though this can also be a hard thing for me, which I will write about later this week most likely.)
There is not much about life before homeschooling that I miss. As much as I enjoyed teaching other children (and I loved them!) I would not trade these days for those. I love my husband. I love my daughter. I enjoy the time I've been given with them. They are blessings in my life. From time to time I do miss the camaraderie of planning with others/bouncing ideas around and going to education conferences with friends. I am a member of a great support group in town; as well as a member of several online communities of wonderful ladies, so that helps. I attended our local homeschool conference the last two years and have heard nothing but good things about our state level convention---which I hope to attend sooner than later. I have also participated in Cindy Rushton's online Charlotte Mason seminar for the past two years. So there are still opportunities for fellowship and continual learning and inspiration.
Time learning and growing together is one thing we have gained in homeschooling-----I am so thankful for the days we have been given (which seem to be passing all too quickly).
Home Education Week is sponsored by Dana at Principled Discovery. To read the "Looking Back" posts of others, please visit here.
*******************************
Speaking of online seminars, Cindy Rushton is gearing up for the Second Annual Ultimate Homeschool Expo (with free preview sessions taking place weekly now) and Heart of the Matter Online is planning a virtual seminar for this summer.